Ministry
Cover Up

THE REVIEW

There could have been many ways to end a career, and what a career it has been—it's truly appropriate to say—looking back at Ministry's sonic journey over more than twenty-five years. Even just "limiting" themselves to closing the door after releasing the last and positive album "The Last Sucker" from last summer would have provided a logical and meaningful farewell. After all, the end of a story like the one written by Ministry does not deserve to end anonymously.

Instead, by deciding to feed the ravenous beasts (for instance, myself when I hear the name Ministry) a mediocre cover work like "Cover Up," they made the worst choice. I understand that the album shouldn't be seen as a significant work, stylistically and evolutionarily, within their discography, and I understand that from an emotional standpoint, Al Jourgensen may be attached to songs (Rolling Stones, T.Rex, Mountain, ZZ Top, Louis Armstrong, etc.) that might have given him unforgettable moments, which he consequently decided to celebrate by revisiting them in his own way (not even too much, and this, aside from all considerations, is the negative side of the whole affair). But I do not understand why one would want to extinguish a torch that was still shining with its own light with a series of memories, themselves born from faded memories, because if you exclude "Supernaut" and "Lay Lady Lay" (both well-known for years now) and "Roadhouse Blues", there's not much to appreciate. Also, the rendition of "Space Truckin'" from which I expected far more instrumental vigor, is not satisfying. Moreover, there isn't a single piece of electronic extraction, almost as if the early Ministry hadn't been influenced by any bands of that genre, what a pity!

Last consideration: in the past nine months, Ministry has released, in order, the remixes of "Rio Grande Blood," "The Last Sucker," and "Cover Up," and they are completing their final tour. It seems as if (Al Jourgensen) was in a rush to say goodbye and put everything and everyone behind him, as if it were an accounting task to be settled and not an event to celebrate. What a shame. My memories of Ministry are quite different.